The skin, which is the largest organ of the body, weighing between 6 and 9 pounds, protects the inside of the body from external bacteria and viruses, senses heat and cold and regulates the temperature of the body. Many skin disorders affect the role of the skin and allow disruption that can be minor or lead to death.
Systemic Sclerosis
Systemic sclerosis is a chronic disorder that causes degenerative changes in the skin, internal organs and joints. The symptoms include swelling, thickening and tightening of the skin on the tips of the fingers, according to Merck. Symptoms similar to Raynaud's syndrome are common, in which the fingers respond to cold by becoming pale, tingling or painful. Joint aches and pains often accompany early symptoms.
Changes in the skin can include damage to large areas or just the fingers and hands. If systemic sclerosis affects the face, the skin can become so tight that facial expressions are impossible. About 65 percent of people with systemic sclerosis live for at least 10 years after the diagnosis is confirmed, reports Merck. Systemic sclerosis becomes fatal when it causes damage to the internal organs. No drug or treatment can stop the deterioration of systemic sclerosis.
Epidermolysis Bullosa
Epidermolysis bullosa is a group of genetic skin disorders that appears in many ways. Symptoms include blistering of the skin, deformed or no fingernails and toenails, difficulty swallowing, and internal blistering of the throat, upper airway, intestines, esophagus and urinary tract, according to MayoClinic.com.
Possible complications from epidermolysis bullosa include secondary skin infection, such as a staph infection; sepsis, in which the bacteria from the skin infection gets into the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body, causing organ failure and death; deformities, such as fusion of toes or fingers; malnutrition due to blistering in the mouth; and anemia, reports MayoClinic.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma, known as SCC, begins in the epidermis, or outer layer of the skin, where the squamous cells are located. The main cause of SCC is excessive exposure to the sun. Other causes include burns, chemical exposure, radiation and a compromised immune system.
Symptoms of SCC include flat lesions that scale or crust and tumors located mostly on areas of the skin exposed to the sun. Early treatment of SCC, the second most common form of skin cancer, is necessary to reduce the chances of the cancer spreading to other organs and becoming fatal, states Penn State Medical Center.
Anhidrosis
Anhidrosis, the inability to sweat normally, is a potentially life-threatening condition. The lack of the ability to perspire, which is the body's way to cool itself, can lead to overheating and heatstroke, reports Ohio Health Online. Heatstroke requires immediate treatment, such as moving the person to an air-conditioned space or spraying the skin with water and using a fan or paper to circulate the air to reduce the chances for coma and death.
